Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Today is a good day...

(I’m using far too many exclamation points, but I just can’t help it.)

You may remember my earlier postsaboutrevisions, but I can now say that the Beautiful Editor is Bryony Green of Harlequin Mills and Boon (who is now my Most Favorite Person because she saw the promise in this book and challenged me to meet it.). Friday morning, at 10.15 a.m., she called to buy BEST LAID PLANS for the Modern Heat line (thereby solidifying her place as Most. Favorite. Person. Ever.).

(Of course, this is me we are talking about, so there’s a story behind the story: At 8.45 that morning, I was on the phone with Rhonda Nelson, obsessing over my revisions and parsing out the meaning of the work “tweak”—just in case it meant something else in Editor-Land. I’m on my cell phone with her when the house phone rings. I glanced at the number, but didn’t recognize it, so I figured it was a telemarketer. But then the “Telemarketer” left a message. Thinking that odd, I googled the number—still on the phone to Rhonda, mind you. I have no idea what she was saying because the next words out of my mouth aren’t appropriate for the blog. I go storming down the stairs to listen to the message—yep, still on the phone with Rhonda—only to hear that I’d missed a call from Harlequin Mills and Boon. The message said she’d call back in an hour or so, which meant I spent the next 84 minutes staring at the phone, WILLING it to ring with my amazing mental powers. Le sigh.)

The rest of the day is a blur of happy dances, phone calls with much Squeeing going on, and champagne. Congratulatory emails came pouring in (and I’ve saved them all). Flowers arrived. AC made me a pink ribbon to wear to dinner that night (because July is just too far away to wait for the pink “First Sale” ribbon). It was a good day.

And now we get to Par-Tay!! But first, I need to make a small speech (feel free to visit the bar while I do), and send out big thank you’s to the following people:

My Wonderful Playfriends: You ladies are my support, my inspiration, and my compass. I wouldn’t be here without y’all. Your faith and determination bolstered mine when I needed it.

The Marvelous Mavens: For believing in me. (And a special thanks to Beverly for nagging me to finish this book in the first place!)

My fabu CP: For telling me what I needed to hear—even when I didn’t want to hear it. I’m a much stronger writer thanks to you.

Rhonda and Jen: For cheering me up (and on) when things got tough.

Counselor Shelley: For talking me off the ledge more than once.

My Mom: For being my head cheerleader.

My Amazing Child: For understanding “Mommy’s writing” and asking me every night at dinner how many pages I wrote that day (and applauding regardless of the amount).

And, finally, my Darling Geek: Thank you for believing I could do this and all of your support while I did. I’m so lucky to have you in my corner. I love you. (Now get to work on my website!)

~fans eyes~

Crank up the music, cue the nearly-naked dancing men, call Captain Jack, and let’s get this party started. Teeter-totters all around! (And, the lovely Soapbox Queens are also hosting a party at their castle today to celebrate! More men and booze over there!)

Congratulations, PC!!! I am SO very thrilled for you!!! (And while I hate that you missed that first call, I have to admit it was quite thrilling to listen to the message while I was on the phone with you. :-)

I'm thrilled for you. I got to hear the phone message, which was pretty neat. But one of the most wonderful parts was seeing the pride in your husband's and AC's eyes. Guess she'll have to trade in her "My Mom Writes Books" t-shirt for one that says "My Mom's a Published Author" huh?

Congrats, PC!!!! Good things happen to those who work hard! I enjoyed sharing that day with you, going over the possibilities of what Bryony could want, counting down the minutes until it was nearly time for her to call back, and then hearing the good news when you called later to squee. :) It was awesome!

Woohoo!!!! Congratulations, Kim! I totally love the title - don't mess with that one. It rocks. And I've heard utterly fab things about the Modern Heat line - great stories, great writers. Hugs and squeeeeees and dancing for you. You know, of course, what goes BEST with the pink ribbon? PINK SHOES. Just sayin'.

Chocolate martini in hand, I'm party hopping from the Soapbox Queens to the Playground so I can congratulate Kimberly in two places at once!! Kimberly, your life has changed forever and it'll never change back, and that's a good thing. I can hardly wait to congratulate you in person in SF!

Congtaulations Kim! I am so proud of you! From the first line of your writing I ever read, I never had any doubt this day would come. Hearing the excitement in your voice Friday sent me into a major happy dance (and I was in the car getting some mighty strange looks) that hasn't stopped yet. My 8th graders are wondering why I'm in such a good mood today. Can't tell them that I've been boozin' and schmoozin' with Capt. Jack;-)Love you---and more giant hugsPCCP

Lower the disco ball! Hoist the SQUEEEE! Fill your gillet with petit fours! There be a par-tay on this playground. And the Captain is never tardy for a dram of rum. (Hold on, I've jumped ahead of meself.)

CONGRATULATIONS, PC!!! Doing the moon walk for you. This has been a long time coming. You deserve every minute of this spectacular ride!

Jack me timbers are shivering... how about warming them up. We can share a dram and sneak off to a quiet corner away from these teeter-tottering wenches. What do ya' say?

Congratulations and welcome to the M&B family! Don't listen to those MH girls though PC, they're really harmless. But FUN.

There is nothing quite so special as a first sale, so enjoy every single moment of firsts over the next year. First contract, first cheque, first set of AA's....first look at covers and blurbs and the magic of holding your baby in your hands only to be followed by seeing it on the bookstore shelves.

I am sooo late checking in today but for some reason my day job people want me to work this morning!? But I wasn't about to miss this party. Congratulations Kim!!! I am so happy for you! Enjoy your party and I'm going to Happy Dance on over to the bar!

Back from Field Day with Drama Queen. Who says standing out in the sun and sweating is fun? And tomorrow I have to take her to a baseball game field trip. Haven't they ever heard of doing actual work at school?

So, I've been missing the party. Move over, Instigator, I want a turn to sit in Rauol's lap.

Wow! All the Mavens and M&B girls and readers... everybody has dropped in. Are y'all enjoying the teeter-totters? If champagne isn't to your liking, we make a mean buttery nipple around here too.

Hey, PC, Matt made you some golden ribs too. Figured we'd need some real food with all these booze making the rounds.

Now I know what the loud scream was that echoed through downtown Atlanta at the exact time you got THE CALL!!! What a story! Glad you eventually answered the phone!!! CONGRATS!!! Debut author!!! First sale ribbon!!! Dancing at the HQ party Friday night in San Fran! How exciting!!!

I just got back from buying fabric to create the Phantom of the Opera set for a Beauty Pageant this weekend. (Y'all knew I'd eventually create one, didn't you?)

Before any more drinks are poured and before Jack's hands explore any more 'pretty ladies', this simply must be said... PC dancing at the HQN party on Friday? ACK! Horrors! No more knee surgery needed please. Y'all are going to have to tie PC down especially since she's got so much to celebrate. :-)

Kim,Congrats! You deserve this; and its very inspiring!! Yes, I will ply you with many questions and much re-telling. (I LOVE happy stories! and your first sell is one of the best). As you have said..Good mojo begets good mojo!!